CC0040

academic English workshops

2009-2010
Session 7–
Misplaced Modifiers

Wience Lai
ccwience@hkcc-polyu.edu.hk
3746-0170
HHB 1630
What are the possible
meanings that you can
think of?

The manager announced

that two employees had
resigned
before the meeting.
 ambiguous?
What are the possible
meanings that you can
think of?

She likes the music box

on the book cover which
is nicely decorated.
What are the possible
meanings that you can
think of?

I just teach in the

daytime.
What is a Misplaced
Modifier?
A misplaced modifier is
inappropriately positioned in a
sentence.

 It
makes the sentence unclear
which word, phrase, or clause is
modified.
Part A: Diagnostic Test
 Identify and underline the misplaced
modifiers in the following paragraphs.
 Then, revise these sentences to eliminate
errors of misplaced modifiers in the space
between the lines by putting “^” in the
correct position.
 Part B:
Grammatical principles -
Review
Modifiers
Modifiers of Nouns
Modifiers of Verbs

Misplaced Modifiers
How to correct misplaced modifiers
Modifiers
A modifier is a word or groups of
words which describes or identifies
another word or group of words in
the same sentence.
 It can be a single word, a phrase, or
a clause.
Modifiers of Nouns
 A modifier may provide more information about a
noun.
 More technically, they could be called
“adjectivals”.

Hong Kong is an international city [single word].

Firms from all over the world establish offices in
Hong Kong [phrase].
Only those applicants who have passed the English
proficiency test will be shortlisted for a second
interview [clause].
Modifiers of Verbs
 A modifier may provide more information about a
verb.
 More technically, they could be called “adverbials”.

Having near-native English proficiency can greatly

enhance your job prospects in today’s competitive
job market [single word].
In this essay, we will analyse the status of English
from multiple perspectives [phrase].
Since the lecturer could establish a friendly
atmosphere in the lesson, students participated
actively in the class learning activities [clause].
Misplaced Modifiers
 A modifier which is placed in a wrong
position can distort the meaning and thus
confuse readers.
 You may avoid misplaced modifier
problems by putting modifiers as close as
possible to the words being modified.
How to correct
Misplaced Modifiers
Place modifiers such as even, only, merely,
almost, nearly, just immediately before the
words they modify.
Example:
Misplaced Modifier: The presenter speaks too soft;
the audiences sitting in the front can only hear him.
[Only intends to modify the audiences.
Nevertheless, because of its position, it appears to
modify hear in this sentence.]
Revision: The presenter speaks too soft; only the
audiences sitting in the front can hear him.
How to correct
Misplaced Modifiers
Place clause modifiers beginning with who, which
or that immediately after the words they modify.
Example:
Misplaced Modifier: The student received full marks in
the test who is always punctual to the class.
[who is always punctual to the class intends to modify
the student. Nevertheless, because of its position, it
appears to modify the test in this sentence.]
Revision: The student who is always punctual to the
class received full marks in the test.
How to correct
Misplaced Modifiers
Avoid inserting a modifier between “to” and
the verb that follows [split infinitives].
Example:
Misplaced Modifier: As tropical cyclone signal
#8 has just been hoisted, the lecturer asks the
students to quickly but calmly leave.
Revision: As tropical cyclone signal #8 has just
been hoisted, the lecturer asks the students to
leave quickly but calmly.
How to correct
Misplaced Modifiers
Avoid positioning a modifier in a place where
its meaning is ambiguous, i.e. describing both
what precedes and what follows them.
Example:
Misplaced Modifier: Tommy said after the
examination he wanted to ask the lecturer for the
model answers.
[Did Tommy say this after the examination? Or did
he have the desire to ask the lecturer for the model
answers after the examination?]
How to correct
Misplaced Modifiers
Depending on the meaning you want, we may revise
this misplaced modifier problem in either way:
Revision i): After the examination, Tommy said he
wanted to ask the lecturer for the model answers.
[after the examination describing said].
Revision ii): Tommy said he wanted to ask the
lecturer for the model answers after the
examination.
[after the examination describing wanted].
 Part C: Concept Boosting
Exercises
Exercise C1: Identify and underline the modifiers in
the following sentences. Then, circle the word(s)
being modified.
1. I do not think anyone can succeed without love.
2. If you lack passion for your work, you will not succeed.
3. Falling in love with your work can make a person perform
better.
4. Michael Jordan, a famous American basketball player who
played 1072 games and ended his career with 32,292
points, said in his retirement, “What is love? Love is playing
every game as my last.”
Part C: Concept Boosting
Exercises
Exercise C2: Make sentences using the
modifiers given. Then, circle the word(s)
being modified.
1. silently
2. for several years
3. without hesitating
4. although you would not believe it
Part C: Concept Boosting
Exercises
 Exercise C3: Identify and underline
the misplaced modifiers in the
following paragraphs. Then, revise
these sentences to eliminate errors of
misplaced modifiers in the space
between the lines by putting “^” in
the correct position.
Homework Practice 4:
Reflective Writing Practice III
(Comments on a Journal
Article)
In this task, you are required to
i) read and choose a journal article relevant to
your study discipline* (Health Care) and
ii) write a reflection paragraph of 100-150 words
on the article.
Due Date: In the Workshop of Week 9
*You may use the electronic resources (e.g. Academic
Search Premier, Business Source Premier, ProQuest 500)
available at the website of the CPCE Libraries
<http://www.cpce-polyu.edu.hk/lib/content.php?
cms=924> to search for a journal article in your study
discipline.